Polish-rod clamp for oil-wells



(No Model.)

L. SPRINGER.

POLISH ROD ULAMPFOR OIL WELLS.

No. 540,882. Patented June 11, 1895.

- I e I; z' Sf/thy UNITED 1 STATES- PATENT QFFICEQ LEVI SPRINGER, OFMONTEZUMA, OHIO.

POLISH-ROD CLAMP FOR OIL-WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,882, dated June 11,1895.

Application filed February 27, 1895- Serial No. 539,900. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, LEVI SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montezuma, in the county of Mercer and State of Ohio, haveinvented. a new and useful Polish- Rod Clamp for Oil-Wells, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in clamps for connecting apolish rod to. a walking beam in such manner as to permit said rod to bedisconnected from 'the walk- .ing beam and adjusted in height relativelythereto.

The object of this invention is to provide a clamp which may be locatedwithin convenient reach of a workman standing on the derrick floor,which shall be capable of being quickly and easly manipulated andadjusted, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, durableand not liable to get out of order, and which shall be thoroughlyeffective for the purpose for which it is intended.

This invention while useful in operating deep wells in general, isparticularly valuable when used in connection with oil wells, since, tosecure the greatest yield from a well of this description, it isnecessary to make provision whereby the length of the polish rod and theposition of the piston may be regulated, so that said piston may beadjusted to the required depth in the well.

To this end the invention consists in certain features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing aportion of a walking-beam, the manner of supporting my .improved clampthereon, and the working parts of said clamp. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveView of the clamp with the sliding jaw opened to permit the insertion orwithdrawal of the polish-rod. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the clampwith the polish-rod in section. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the samewith the polish-rod broken away. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through oneof the clamping-blocks.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures of the drawlngs.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicatesone end of a walking beam, and 2,the main jaw or body of my improved clamp- Said clamp is suspendedbeneath the end of the walking beam 1 at any convenient or desireddistance therefrom by means of a rod or post 3, to the lower end ofwhich the clamp 2 is fixedly attached, the upper end of said supportingrod or post being provided with a cross head or laterally projectingtrunnions 4, as shown. The end of the walking beam 1 is bifurcated orforked to form two arms 5 between which the supporting rod or post 3passes. The upper faces of the arms 5 are provided with correspondingconcavities which are adapted to receive the cross head or trunnions 4,referredto. A securing plate 6, provided similarly to the walking beam 1with a bifurcated end or fork and parallel arms 7-7, rests above thecross head or trunnionset and is also provided with concavities intheunder faces of its arms 7-7 for embracing the cross head or trunnions 4at the upper end of the supporting rod or post 3.

8 indicates a T-headed bolt passing upwardly through the Walking beam 1,and securing plate 6, and located in the forks thereof or between thearms 5 5 and 77.

the walking beam, and at its upper end the shank of said bolt passesthrough a plate or washer 9 striding the fork in the securing plate 6,and provided above the same in a suitable nut 10, whereby the parts areclamped and held in place.

The main clamp or body of my clamping device is made substantially inhorse-shoe form, and is provided at 11 with a. recess or opening for thereception of the vertical portion of asliding piece or clamp 12. The lugor projection 13 on one side of the opening .11 forms the fixed clampingjaw of the device, and is provided on its inner face at 14 The head ofthe bolt 8 engages the under side of line with and corresponding to thesimilar concavity 14 in the lug 13.

20 indicates a horizontal arm or extension projecting laterally from theupper portion of the sliding clamp 12.

The upper portion of the lug 15 is cut away, as indicated at 21, for thereception of the horizontal extension 20 of the sliding jaw, a shoulder22 being thus formed against which the inner face of the sliding clamp18 and its horizontal extension slide for guiding and steadying themovements of the movable jaw.

23 indicates the polish rod.

In operation, the polish rod is held between the fixed jaw 13 and thesliding jaw 12 by means of the set-screw 17. It will be apparcut, thatby turning the set-screw 17 out; wardly, the sliding jaw may bewithdrawn from its engagement with the polish rod, which may thusberemoved and disconnected from the clamp and the walking beam, andwhich may be adjusted in height and again clamped in position by turningin the setscrew 17. Thus I obtain a clamp; which is simple inconstruction, strong and durable, which may be easily and quicklymanipulated and which is thoroughly effective in practice.

Should itbe desired to turn the polish rod, clamping blocks 24, locatedone above and another below the main clamp 2, are em;- ployed, eachprovided with sidewings or PX- tensions25, a set screw 2 6,,and abinding plate or piece of brass 27, which bears; directly against, thepolish rod 23 and prevents injury to the surface thereof as it is, veryimportant 1 to keep said rod smooth. By tightening the clamping blocks24, and loosening the main clamping screw 17 the polish rod 231 may beturned while still in operation and without stopping the pump.

What I claim is 1. In a polish rod clamp for wells, a main or stationaryjaw supported beneath and mounted in the end of the walking beam, and anadjustable jaw having a sliding connection with the main or stationaryjaw, in combination with a pair of clamping blocks located one above andthe other below the main clamping jaw, and the set screws for engagingsaid clamping blocks with the polish rod,for the purpose substantiallyas described.

2. In a polish rod clamp for wells, a supporting rod mounted in anddepending from the walking beam, and a stationary jaw secured to thelower end of said rod and upheld thereby, and provided with a recessopening out ator upon one side, thereof so as to permit the polish rodto be introduced and removed laterally, in combination with anadjustable and sliding clamp having an arm 22 resting in a recess 21 inthat portion of the stationary jaw opposite to the working face thereof,said clamp being further provided with a vertical extension formedintegrally therewith and resting within, the opening or recess in thestationary jaw, and a set screw passing through the stationary jaw andhearing against the integral vertical portion or extensionoftheadjustable sliding clamp, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI SPRINGER. \Vitnesses:

H, A. MILLER, G. G. O. MILLER.

